Curtain



May ll, 1937. A; BAUER, JR., ET Al.

CURTAIN Filed Nov. 2o, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 v 5%- f 2. /ff/j.. f f o 9:Kili-:t :1- 171/132 fJ/- -Jc/ o y I 1 V /f. l

May ll, 1937. A. BAUER, JR.. ET AL CURTAIN Filed Nov. 20, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/who@ en/el It is Well knovvn that the PatentedMay 11,1937 UNITED STATES PATENTI OFFICE 2,079,831 CURTAIN Andrew Bauer, Jr.,Forest Hills, N. Y., and Robert WhewelLf New Bedford, Mass., assignorsto 1 United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc., New` `York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application November 20,1935, Serial No. 50,646

` 1 1 ciaim. (ci. 139-389) Our present invention` relates to windowcurtains and method of Weaving thesame.

Prior to our invention it has been the` general practice in theproduction of curtains to have the materials woven atthe millsof a.`single thickness according tolthe patterns and` types desired, and toprovide in the process ,of Weaving a heavy filler thread across `thematerial at cer* maximum) and these curtainsafter Vthe ends are hemmedare sold throughthe stores and shops to the users. i i

hanging of the curtains in homes or other places Where `they are usedinvolves considerable diiiicultyand tedious Work on the part of personshanging them chieiiy because it is necessary to fold over one of theends of the curtains to provide a tunnel or tube through which thecurtain rods Vare inserted to support the curtain. Whenthe curtains arearranged in pairs it frequently happens that the first fitting in thehome is not accurate due either to irregularities-'in the finishing ofthecurtains by the manufacturers or to mistakes or "inaccuracies on thepart` of the persons who make the folds to receive the curtain rod. J

Our present invention stated generally as `to method provides for theaccurate weaving of i curtains, which during the weaving process, haveformed therein tunnels or tubes to receive the curtain rods and arrangedat predetermined intervals with meticulous exactitude lassured by themanipulation of the yarns vin the process of weaving on the looms, sothat the pairs of curtains may be evenly and easily hung inthe homeorother place of use without any Work on the part of the `user exceptinserting the curtain rods and securingthem on their usual supports `orbrackets. l. f

Stated generally` as to the article, the invention resides in theprovision of; curtains or drapes provided with at least one preformedtunnel .or tube toreceive the curtain rod, or Withfa plurality of suchtubes permitting adjustment of the curtains according to diierentlflengths `of Windows,'as Well as taking care of shrinkage which usuallyoccurs when the curtains are laundered.

More specifically, and as will be hereinafter pointed out in detail, theprocess of weaving pro- The vides `for dividing `the vvarp threads into`separate groups at deiinite intervals, and Weaving certain of the weftor llerthreads in with the divided `Warps to provide `areas `of doublefabric which constitute the tunnels or tubes to receive the curtain rodsor other supporting elements. The

' l my 2,079,831

same warp threads .are utilized in Weaving theA body of thecurtain of`single thicknessbeyond Athe tubes ortunnels o1'` thcrebetvvecn.

Other or specic objects .of the invention `reside in so Weaving..thecurtainswith the tunnels or tubes simultaneously fol'medfduringthcweaving process and providing finished or. smooth longitudinal edges tothe curtains, which may be calleda prehem'." This may be accomplished byincorporating in the Warp heavy or relatively `thick yarns,

Another feature is the provision of specially grouped weft or `fillerthreadswith or without heavy or thickdecorative. filler threads tostrengthen the tunnels or tubes `which receive the rods or supportingelements. `The foregoing and other objects `and advantages of theinvention Willbe pointed out in detail and explained fullyduring thecourse of the following description of the accompanying drawings forminga part `of this application, Kand inA Which Fig. 1 is a front elevationof a Window frame showing a pair of curtains embodying the inventionhung thereacross on a supporting rod;

Fig. 2 is Va side elevation of the structure and `curtains shown in Fig.1 illustrating how the curtains of Fig. 1 maybe shortened Whileproviding a valance at the top;

Fig. 3 `is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one ofthe curtainsshownlin Fig. 1 illustrating particularly the formation of the rodreceiving tunnel; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but inperspective, and with one of `the tunnels open and illustratingparticularlyvthe-prehem or nished edge; p

.Fig 5 is an enlargedvertical sectional View 4through the topV ofthecurtain of Fig. 1 Vand one of the tunnels, further showingthe methodloi? Weaving; p i p V Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 `showing amodification inrespect tothe method of Weaving to produce thetunnels;and

` Fig. 7 is `a view similar toFig. 5 taken through thevstructure of Fig.6.V

Referring to Fig. 1 the numeral a window frame, at opposite sides ofwhich and adjacent. the top are conventional brackets 9 to receive theends of a curtain rod I0 in usual s designates manner so that curtainsor drapes may be suspended across the window on the rod.

The numeral II designates the curtains each of which is of similar oridentical design and construction so as to present an even or matchedappearance both as to the length and decorative effect. As previouslymentioned it is the construction of the curtains themselves and themethod of weaving or producing the same which constitutes our presentinvention, and before proceeding with a detailed description of saidconstruction and method of production, we would point out that thecurtains in Figs. 1 and 2 are shown provided with three transversetunnels or tubes each designated generally by the numeral I2 and eachadapted to receive the curtain rod I0. In Fig. lthe curtains are shownsuspended on thev rod IIl by inserting the rod through the uppermosttunnel I2, while in Fig.

2 the lcurtains are shown suspended on the rod by inserting the rodthrough the middle or intermediate tunnels I2. Obviously the curtainswhen suspended in the manner shown in Fig. l hang further below thelower end of the window frame than when suspended in the manner shown inFig. 2. Thus the curtains may be readily adapted to different lengths ofwindows simply by inserting the rods through desired tunnels, and as isobvious in Fig. 2 when the rods are inserted through either of thelowermost tunnels, theupper ends of the curtains hang down to provide adecorative valance V. If desired, however, the downwardly hanging upperportion may be disposed behind instead of in front of the body of thecurtains, thus eliminating' the valance while obtaining the desiredlength of curtains.

As previously mentioned, one of the principal generalobjects of theinvention is the production of curtains such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2with either a plurality of tunnels or even a single tunnel to receivethe curtainl rod so that'the curtains as purchased Amay be hung in thehomes or other places of use without the necessity of measuring thewindows and forming loops or hems in the tops ofthe' curtains to receivethe rods or other supporting elements. Also as previously mentioned thefabric of which the curtains is made iscontinuously woven under accuratesetting and operation of the looms, so that the tunnels which receivethe rods, whether there be one, two, or more to a curtain, will occur atdefinite intervals. The web of` fabric v which contains thepredetermined lengths is provided during the weaving process with theusual cutting guide threads hereinabove mentioned, (but not shown) sothat the manufactucer of the curtains simply has to cut along theindicated lines and then hem over the cut edges as indicated by thenumeral I3 in' Fig. 5 to obtain finished ends to the curtain. Thetunnels are all located on corresponding pairs of curtains at exactpredetermined distances from the cutting lines, and these relativedistances are determined *by the setting of the harness of the looms.

In Figs. 3-5 the numeral I4 designates the warp threads which form theleno and the numeral' l'designates the filler or weft threads.

-the curtain rods.

parent, the invention may be practiced in connection with fabrics ofvarious types and weaves, such, for instance, as voiles and plain weave.

Also `in Figs. 3-5 the numeral IB designates relatively heavy llerthreads which are inserted at predetermined times and intervalspreferably at the top and bottom of the tunnels which receive thesuspending or supporting elements or rods. The use of the heavy fillerthreads I6 not only lends decoration, but also increases the strength.of the fabric, particularly in an open mesh or marquisette type madefrom relatively light warp and weft threads. Also as indicated generallyby the numeral Il, certain of the weft threads I5 may be groupedrelatively close adjacent the heavy filler threads I6, furtherincreasing the decorative effect and strength of the curtain at thepoints where the rod receiving tunnels occur. Of course the grouping I'Iand the use of the heavy filler threads I6 is optional as willhereinafter become more apparent.

We may also, and we find it desirable, incorporate in the fabricrelatively heavy warp threads I8 along the longitudinal edges of thecurtain or material from which the curtains are made, and if desiredsimilar threads I9 in spaced relation t'o the threads I8 and parallelthereto. The warp threads I4 between the relatively heavy threads ofyarns I8, I9 are shown relatively closely spaced along the longitudinaledges of the curtain both for decorative effect and to increase thestrength of the material.

In Figs. 3-5 the transverse area or areas between the respective pairsof heavy filler rthreads or yarns I6 constitute the tunnel or tunnelsdesignated generally by the letter T. It will be noted that these areasor tunnels are of double thickness providing a space S to receive Thematerial above and below and between the tunnels where more than onetunnel is provided is of single thickness, and it is this method ofweaving which provides the readyto-hang curtains.

VThe structure shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 is accomplished inthe following manner. When weaving those portions of the web or materialof single thickness the leno or warp is maintained undivided so that,for instance, there vmaybe twenty of the warp threads YI4 to the inch.However, when the points are reached where the tunnels are to be formed(determined by the setting of the harness) the leno or warp is dividedinto two groups so that there will be half as many of the threads I4 tothe inch where the cloth is of double thickness to form the. oppositesides or walls of the tunnels. When the points are reached where thetunnels have been woven of predetermined dimension, the leno or warp isagain brought together and manipulated to weave a fabric of singlethickness. The above operation or method is continuous and may beaccomplished either .with a single shuttle or with two shuttles. Thepreferred method consists in using one shuttle when weaving the cloth ofsingle thickness, and bringing into use two shuttles when weaving thecloth of double thickness to form the tunnels. The reason for this beingthe preferred method is that smooth finished or prehemmed longitudinal--edges are obtained as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 where the ller threads I5are engaged around the threads I8 on both walls of the tunnel as well aswhere the cloth is of single thickness. This is' indicated by thenumeral 20 indicating on an exaggerated scale one of the loops wh're theiiller or weft threads engage" around the heavywarp threads at the sideof the curtain.

In actual practice we have found that curtains 5 or drapes regardless ofthe nature of the material and woven. in accordance with the foregoingmethod possess great advantages over curtains finished in the homes orat other places of use by users, not only in the time and trouble savedl the users, but also in other important respects. Florl instance, thecurtains may; be adapted to different lengths of windows and regardlessof Y which of thetunnels are used, so long as the tunnels on therespective pairs are in alinement `lli on the same rod, an accurate andneat eiect is i obtained.

The use of the heavy ller threads or the grouping of the weft threadsadjacent the tunnel is" optional, and of c ourse various decorative pat-20 terns may be produced by practicing knownmethods of weaving as to theinsertion of decorative ller threads to create designs.

In Figs. 6 and 'l wehhave shown a modification of the inventionwherein asingle shuttle is used 25 between the points where the leno is dividedandthere are no decorative or strengthening ller threads along thetunnels, although the same may be easily incorporated in the warp asshould be obvious. 'Ihe same method is used to the extent 30 that theleno or warp is divided where the tunnels are formed. However, when asingle shuttle is used in weaving both the single and double thicknessof cloth or fabric, the tunnels are closed at their ends when theweaving is completed, so 35 that it is necessary to cut'certain of thefilleror weft threads in order to open the ends of the tunnels to permitinsertion of the rods. This is shown clearly in Fig. 6 where thenumeral22 designates the cut ends of certain of the weft or 40 iiller threadsI5' which correspond to the threads i of Figs. 3 and 4. Also in Figs. 6and 7 the numerals Il' designatethe warp threads correspending to thoseIllof Figs. 3-5. The leno or warp is divided at 23, and as plainly shownin the 45 drawings the number of warp threads in the portions of thefabric where the thicknessis single are double the number of the threadsacross the channels where the leno is divided. 'I'he numeral 2ldesignates the loop ends of certain of the weft or filler threads i5'which are uncut, and as shown, every third weft or illler thread issevered at the ends of the tunnel under the method disclosed inconnection with Figs. 6 and 7.

It should readily be apparent why the construction shown in Figs. 3-5 ispreferable to that of Figs. 6 and 7, namely, that the longitudinal edgesof the curtains are finished off instead of having frayed edges at theends of the tunnels. However, the method generally, and the curtainsconstructed in vaccordance therewith. is the same under both embodimentsof the invention because of the fact that .the tunnels or rod receivingchannels are provided in or made a part of the curtains at the time ofweaving the same, and whether there be one tunnel or channel to acurtain, or a plurality of tunnels or channels to a curtain, the sameoccur at` regular predetermineddntervalson the web determined by thesetting of the harness of the loom. h

Another feature which we would point out is that the number of filler orweft threads which extend longitudinally across the channels, that is,the threadsi and I5', may be closely spaced together or more-closelyspaced than the correspondlng threads on areas Where the cloth is ofsingle thickness. This will also provide additional strengthk to thetunnels or channels.

-What we claim is: n

As a new article of manufacture a curtain or drape comprising a Wovenfabric of single thickness throughout a major lportion thereof andhaving adjacent one end and at xed distances from the other kend aplurality of zones of double thickness arranged in parallel spacedrelation relative to each other and `spaced apart by areas of singlethickness, said zones of double thickness extending transversely acrossthe curtain and constituting tunnels, any one of which may receive a rodor the like to hang the curtain.

`ANDREW BAUER, JR. ROBERT WHEWELL.

